Fishing

Wonthaggi has a collection of hot spots in the area including Kilcunda, great for salmon and yellow-eyed mullet during the day, and gummy shark in the early morning and night.

Baxter’s Beach is another go to for salmon during season. Harmers’ Haven and Wreck Beach are also good for surf and rock fishing. Be warned - the rocky outcrops will eat your tackle.

The calm waters of Inverloch in and around Anderson Inlet are home to whiting, salmon, mullet and trevally. If you have a tinnie, your chances are doubled. Head onto the sheltered waters and cast your line a few times to find where the fish are. Launch from Mahers’ Landing or the Inverloch boat ramp.

The town is renowned for its vast, sheltered fishing opportunities and convenient all-tide access to Bass Strait. Port Albert serves as an excellent entry point for boaters with a 4-lane boat ramp. You can find a perch on one of the jetties to angle for snapper, flathead, gummy shark, squid and whiting.

For those needing a touch of serenity. Enjoy a cold one on a hot day with the feet submerged in the cooling whitewash. From the shores of this coastal village find flathead or use a surf rig to catch snapper and gummy shark.

For boat owners, this area gives you access to the whole of Corner Inlet by sea, but make sure you avoid protected zones.

Climb atop sand dunes to find the dark spots in the sea. These depths are where fish tend to congregate amongst 90 miles of shoreline. Couple this with a turning tide at either dusk or dawn and you are in for a treat.

The dozen hot spots are also popular amongst hardcore anglers during winter, under the cover of night where the Bass Strait assaults the shore.

Mcloughlins Beach and Golden Beach are great spots. A surf fisher casting lures from the shore can land salmon and large yellowtail kingfish.

More secluded spots are accessed from Woodside on the southern end and Lake Tyers on the northern end. Just east of Lake Tyers is Pettmans Beach with a gutter system that experienced fisherfolk can manoeuvre near the shoreline to score gummy sharks and large salmon.

There are boat ramps at the Marlo Jetty, Brodribb River (at the end of Old Marlo Road), Corringle Slips and on the Snowy River along Lochend Road.

Plan your menu around bream, luderick, mullet, estuary perch, silver trevally, dusky flathead, Australian bass and mulloway. Or dive from the boat for crayfish and abalone.

Your catch is best enjoyed cooked on the beach.

BLUE ROCK LAKE

Just bring your rod, lemon, pepper and salt. Blue Rock Lake has you covered with the lake full of fish ready to be caught and eaten. Lunch includes big brown trout and sizeable redfin.

The main access point for boats is at the northern end of the lake at the ramp off Old Tanjil Rd. This boat ramp is ideal if you are looking to access the Tanjil Arm across the other side of the lake.

No problem if you do not have a boat, the ramp gives you plenty of access to the shoreline. There is also a walking track which connects the northern boat ramp to Blue Rock Rd, just below Willow Grove, gifting you even more shoreline.

Try your hand at fly fishing, which is best when the sun is over the horizon or on a cloudy day.

LAKE NARRACAN

Bring the whole family on this excursion, as Lake Narracan is known for bank fishing for carp and carp are easy to catch. Enjoy the squeals of kids trying to hook worms, the best bait for carp. Try your luck in the early morning or at dusk.

LAKE GLENMAGGIE

Angling in this popular inland lake is ideal for catching trout, bass, carp and redfin. Drop your line in near Coongulla Community Hall. Fly fishing, spinners, soft plastics and worms all work well here.

Camping and caravan facilities are also available at Lake Glenmaggie, making it a great getaway for all the loved ones.

COWWARR WEIR

The weir is accessible around its banks and has brown trout, redfin and European carp up to 4kg. There isn’t a boat ramp available, but non-powered boats are welcomed. Check out what you can find amongst the rock-ramp fishway that's designed to control migration.

It is also a great spot for the family to picnic and for kids to splash about in the water.

HOLLANDS LANDING

Hollands Landing straddles Victoria Lagoon and Lake Victoria and is ideal for fishing in the early morning and evening. The wharf is a popular spot for substantial bream that enjoy a mouthful of peeled prawns. No need to cast out wide, as bream love to frolic in amongst structures, so keep the line close to the wharf.

MARLAY POINT

Another kid-friendly adventure is to be had at Marlay Point with free camping right on the banks of Lake Wellington. You can set up your tent, caravan or camper right between some big Cypress trees.

Fish off the jetty and sandy banks for bream taking worms. The low hanging fruit in the area is the easy-to-catch carp, that eats corn or bread off the hook. Wade out into Lake Wellington if you want to catch some of the bigger fish.

LAKES ENTRANCE

The original fisherman’s paradise with almost every kind of fishing nearby for shore, pier or boat-based angling. Keep it simple and enjoy plenty of fishing off the jetties - Floating Dragon Jetty for mullet and whiting or the Footbridge for beam taking prawn. For boat owners head into Reeves Channel for whiting that feast on pipis and mussels.

PAYNESVILLE

Welcome to Gippsland’s boating capital - a very prestigious accolade given that the entire region is a boater's dream. Bask in the serenity whilst navigating the many canals to chase tailor and bream. Travel towards Ocean Grange for whiting, mullet and beach fishing.

MALLACOOTA

Bountiful in abalone and also known for legendary monster flathead in the depths. Black bream is an easier catch in the Top Lakes taking yabbie and are more prominent early or late in the day.

Try your luck at Harrisons Channel, sometimes producing a mixed bag with soft plastics and prawn.

METUNG

Although the town jetties are a bit quiet, pursue bream and snapper through the nooks and crannies of Bancroft Bay, Chinamans Creek and Box's Creek.

Troll for tailor and look out for the odd huge flathead taking a bait or lure. Whiting are in the Nungurner area during the cooler months, taking pipis and mussels.

LAKE TYERS

Peeled prawn is your best friend at Lake Tyers, attracting both sizeable bream and flathead along the twisting and winding stretch between Camerons Arm and Devils Hole.

This trout gold mine, runs on either side of Blue Rock Lake and then connects Lake Narracan. Try your luck on either branch with lure, plastic or fly. Find both brown and rainbow trout, mostly under 1kg so a light rig is ideal.

Avon River has areas of both large pools and sandy shallow banks for the kids. Lure fishing, soft plastics and worms work with target species of eel, carp, redfin and bass. See if they are biting at the fast flowing riffles above Stratford, that has easy road access.

A fisherfolk’s best friend with kilometres of reachable river bank easily accessible by road. Bream mullet and eel are options, taking worms, bardi grubs and prawns as you get closer to the lakes.

A great challenge for experienced anglers, with or without a boat. Trace the banks and troll amongst the sticks at the mouth of the river for the sometimes fickle but rewarding fishing. Upstream of Sarsfield, find one of the best river blackfish populations in Gippsland.

This major Murray River tributary provides some of Australia’s best freshwater fishing in the high country. On an overcast day head out with lure, baits and flies for the large population of trout.

The town of Marlo is where the Snowy River meets the sea. The sheltered estuary makes the hit list all year long for bream, luderick and the occasional Australian bass upstream. Try using prawn down at the mouth of the river on a running rig with a rising tide for best results.